Saddle



Sept. 3, 1935. J. w. BRANDT 2,013,624

SADDLE Filed Oct. 19, 1935 INVENTOR.

JB/m W Bram 2f.

/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 3, 1935 UETED STATES SADDLE John W. Brandt, Elyria, OhioApplication October 19, 1933, Serial No. 694,260

4 Claims;

This invention relates to saddles and particularly to saddles of thetype adapted to be used on bicycles, motorcycles, velocipedes and thelike.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved saddle of thisgeneral class.

Another object of my invention is to provide a saddle of the typereferred to having'an improved spring construction.

Another object is to provide, in a saddle of the general class referredto, and provided with forwardly and rearwardly disposed springs,improved means for securing the springs to the saddle.

Another object is to provide, in a saddle of the class referred to,comprising a metal base frame element, improved means for securing thesaddle springs to the frame element.

Another object is to provide a saddle of the class referred to employingthe minimum number of parts and which may be fabricated and assembled.at the minimum of cost.

Another object is to provide, in a saddle of the class referred tohaving in the forward portion thereof a generally U-form spring,improved means for securing a fixed leg of the U-shaped i of the saddle.

Another object is to provide, in a saddle of the class comprising asheet metal base frame to which saddle supporting springs are attached,improved means for securing the springs to the frame whereby theconstruction of the frame is simplified.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which myinvention appertains.

My invention is fully disclosed in the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a saddle in which my invention isembodied.

Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the saddle of Fig. 1, the sectionbeing longitudinal with the saddle in its upright or normal position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken from the plane 33 of Fig.2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the plane 4-4 of Fig.2 with parts behind the sectional plane omitted for simplicity.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown at I generally the saddle seatcomprising a sheet metal frame 2 and an inner or bottom cover 3 ofleather, cloth or the like, and an outer cover 4 of leather or the likeand suitable filling material 5. The exact shape and contour of theseparts constitute no essential part of my invention and it may be thatthey are well known in the practice of this art; and the parts may bejoined at the peripheral edge portions in any suitable manner well knownin the art and as indicated generally at 6.

A U-shape'd yoke indicated generally at I has the closed end 3' thereofdisposed adjacent the sheet metal frame 2, or against or adjacent to thecover 3 thereof, and extending transversely thereof upon a'substantially planar portion of the seat frame 2 and is hingedlyconnected to the frame 2 by being disposed over a transversely spacedpair of loops 9-9 of a wire element ID to be more fully described andwhich is secured against the frame 2 as will appear later.

The legs ll-II of the yoke I depend from the closed end portion 8thereof and extend axially through aligned springs 12 and I3, the springI2 being an open wound conical spring and the spring l3 being a closewound helical spring. The lowermost convolutions of the spring I3 as atM- are tightly wound'upon and grip the end of the U-legs II. The end ofthe lower convolution of the spring l2 and the end of the upperconvolution of the spring 13 are wound together as at [5 to form a pairof transversely axially aligned eyes for the reception of portions of aa reach member Hi, to be described. Wound into the eyes l5 also are theopposite ends of a brace l-l formed'from wire and preferably rearwardlylooped.

The construction of the U-shaped yoke 1, springs l2 and'l3 and'bracemember ll constitute no essential part of the present invention and maybe variously constructed. One form thereof is illustrated in the patentto Brandt, No. 1,670,- 563, May22, 1928.

At the forward end of the saddle, awire spring, indicated generally atI8, is provided comprising a loop portion IS, the side limbs 2IJZ0 ofwhich extend:forwardly and are formed into circular helical convolutions2| 2l to provide a spring proper and continue out of the springconvolutions into securing portions 22-22, the latter continuing intothe wires III-l hereinbefore referred to.

The securing portions 22 and the integral wires II] are formed to lieclosely adjacent to the underside of the frame 2-or upon the cover 3thereof; and 'at the longitudinally intermediate and forward portions ofthe saddle are disposed substantially parallel to each other as shown at2323, Fig. 1, and in a forward portion of the saddle, which may besubstantially opposite or directly over the end of the loop portion I9,the securing portions 22 are rigidly secured to the saddle frame 2. Anysuitable means may be provided to effect this anchoring or securing ofthe portions 22 to the saddle frame, but preferably I provide a sheetmetal clip 24, Figs. 2 and 3, disposed upon the lower side of theportions 22, and a bolt 25 projected downwardly through suitableperforations in the frame 2, and between the portions 2222 and through aperforation in the clip 24, and a nut 25 on the bolt to clamp the clipand the wire portions 2222 upon the seat between the nut and the head 2?of the bolt 25.

Rearwardly of the intermediate portion of the saddle, the wires Ill-ldiverge and are formed with the loop portions 99 above referred to whichbridge and tightly engage the closed end U of the yoke "i abovedescribed. Beyond the yoke the wires lfil 3 are formed with eyes 28-28rigidly secured to the saddle frame 2 by bolts 29-29 projecteddownwardly through suitable perforations in the saddle frame 2, andthrough the eyes 28; and nuts 30-33 rigidly clamp the eyes upon theframe 2 between the nut 30 and head 3| of the bolts 29.

Preferably the bolts 29 are disposed adjacent to the loop 9 whereby thestiffness of a wire In of ordinary size may, when the eyes 28 areclamped upon the frame, firmly hold the closed end 8 of the yoke againstthe seat frame 2.

The loop portion l9 has formed in the inner terminus thereof an eye 32formed by disposing portions of the wire from which the loop is made ingreater transverse spaced relation adjacent the extreme end of the loopthan in portions nearer the intermediate spring 18.

The forward spring above described comprising the loop portion IS, thesecuring portions 22-22 and the intermediate spring portion [8 thusconstitute a spring generally of the U-form with the spring portion l8at the closed end of the U and with the loop portion l3 and securingportions 22 constituting respectively the legs of the U.

The loop portion IS, in the construction above described, is spaceddownwardly from the frame 2 and the eye 32 thereof is spaced inwardlyrearwardly from the spring I8 so that the eye 32 may move resilientlyvertically. I

The entire construction comprising the loop portion l9, spring l8,securing portions 22, wire In and loop 9 and eyes 28 may be formed froma single piece of Wire, although as will be understood some of theadvantages of my invention may be practiced if it is composed of morethan one piece.

. The reach member l6 above referred to is also formed from a singlepiece ofwire .but may be otherwise constructed. When formed integrally,the wires bend in an intermediate portion toprovide a loop 33 generallyof hairpin formbut which in side elevation as viewed in Fig. 2 isgenerally Z-form or S-form. Rearwardly of the Z-form loop 34, the wireof the reach member is formed into transversely spaced rearwardlyextending portions 35-35 terminating at their rearward ends in outwardlylaterally extending trunnion portions 3336 inserted into the abovedescribed eyes I-l5.

The Z-shaped loop 34 above described is inserted through the eye 32 todispose it with one leg portion 3'! of the Z-shape overlapping the loopportion [9 of the forward spring.

In assembling the parts described, the loop 33 is first inserted throughthe eye 32 with the side portions 35 of the reach member in a dependentposition; then the reach member may be hingedly moved around the eye 32to bring the trunnion portions 3636 into position to be inserted intothe eyes l5. If, however preferred, the trunnion portions may be firstinserted into their eyes and thus a complete assembly made with thereach member and the rearward spring, and then before assembling theparts upon the saddle, the eye 32 may be assembled with the forward endof the reach rod as illustrated and described.

The loops 33 and i9 are thus locked together and with a predetermineddegree of tension in the spring IS, the lock preventing retraction ofthe loop portion [9 counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2.

A saddle post clamp device, not shown in the drawing, may be clampedupon the portions 35 of the reach member and upon a saddle post in theusual manner. When the saddle is in use, the

weight of a rider on the seat compresses the spring l2 andplaces'tension on the spring|3 in a well known manner, the load beingtransmitted through the spring to the eyes I5|5 and thence to thetrunnions 36 and to the saddle post through the side members 35 of thereach member. Weight on the saddle is also transmitted through thespring l8 and through eye 32 to the reach member, rocking the eye with ahinging movement around the looped end of the reach member.

The above described interlocked construction of the looped end of thereach member and the looped end of the spring thus prevent relativecounter-clockwise movement of the loop of the spring in thespring-retracted direction but permits relative movement in the oppositedirection when the spring is resiliently bent tending to move the looprelatively clockwise; and the juncture of the reach member and the loopis effected without bolts, rivets or the like and simply by insertingthe Z-form loop 34 through the eye 32 to bring the parts into theposition illustrated.

The construction and mode of operation of the juncture at the eye 32constitute no essential part of the present invention and may bevariously constructed. Furthermore the connection between the loopportion !9 of the spring l8 to the reach member IE and the connection ofthe reach member IE to the rearward spring or springs constitute noessential part of my invention and may be variously constructed.

The exact construction illustrated and described in this connectionforms the subject matter of the copending application of Andrew J.Linder, Serial No. 636,165, filed October 4, 1932, for'improvements inSaddles, and reference may be had thereto.

In the construction of the spring l8 and particularly of the securingportions 22 and the wire I3 integral with the spring l8, it will beobserved that a very simple mode of securing the spring l8 to the saddleis provided. I-Ieretofore various forms of construction have beendevised involving cutting and pressing operations to form the saddleframe 2 for the reception of spring securing means. In the form heredescribed and illustrated, only simple perforations need be provided inthe frame element 2.

By carrying the securing portions 22 of the spring l8 'rearwardly,continuing them in the wire I0, a number of joint functions areperformed. There is little or no liability that the securing portions 22will become loose in the bending of the spring because of the greatlongitudinal extent of the wire l secured against the saddle frame; andthere is no liability that the securing portions 22 may shiftlongitudinally because of the double anchorage efiected by the bolts 25and 29; and the securing portions 22 being extended into the wire I0,provide the securing means or loop 9 for the yoke I, not only to supportit but to prevent longitudinal shifting thereof; and because of thestiffness of the wire H] from which it and the securing portions and thespring are formed, the juncture effected by the bolts 25 and 29 may bevery rigid and permanent; and the loop 9, while preventing longitudinalshifting as above described, provides a very simple hinge constructionfor the yoke I. Again, it will be observed that the entire supportingand spring construction may be attached to the saddle frame or removedtherefrom by a screwing on or taking off of only three nuts 30-30 and26, permitting an easy interchangeability of saddles and supportingspring structure. And again, there is no liability that the cover 3 maybe mutilated at the juncture with the spring construction inasmuch asonly simple perforations need be made therethrough and these areentirely covered by the eyes 28 and the securing portions 22-22 and theclip 24, and thus a. very neat appearing saddle is provided.

My invention is not limited to the exact details of construction shownand described. Many changes and modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing its advantagesand within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a saddle comprising a seat, a seat frame, and a longitudinallyextending reach member, a spring member having a pair of securingelements disposed longitudinally under the seat and secured thereto,each securing element having a downwardly looped portion and a loopelement spaced from the seat and connected at its inner end to a forwardportion of the reach member, and a U-shaped depending member hinginglydisposed intermediate said downwardly looped portion of the securingelement and said seat frame.

2. In a saddle comprising a seat, a seat frame, and a longitudinallyextending reach member, a unitary spring member construction having apair of securing elements disposed longitudinally under the seat andsecured thereto, each securing element having an oifset portion integraltherewith adjacent its rear extremity a coil portion disposed forwardlythereof, and a loop element spaced from the seat and connected at itsinner end to a forward portion of the reach member, and a U-shapeddepending member hingingly connected intermediate said offset portionsand said seat frame.

3. In a saddle comprising a seat, a seat frame, and a longitudinallyextending reach member, a unitary spring member construction having apair of securing elements disposed longitudinally under the seat andsecured thereto at forward and rearward portions of the frame, eachsecuring element having an offset portion integral therewith adjacentits rear extremity, and terminating in an eye portion within whichsecuring means are disposed to secure said spring member to said seatframe at a rearward portion of the frame, a coil portion disposedforwardly thereof and connected at its inner end by a loop portion to aforward portion of the reach member, and a U-shaped depending memberhingingly connected intermediate said offset portions and said securingelements.

4.. In a saddle comprising a seat, a seat frame, and a longitudinallyextending reach member, a

generally U-shaped member having the U web transversely abutting theunder side of the seat and the U legs depending therefrom, and a springmember comprising generally longitudinally extending portionssubstantially abutting the under side of the seat and looped over thesaid U web at spaced points and secured rearwardly thereof to the seat,the forward portion of the spring member being reversely curved toprovide an end spaced from the seat, and the reach member beinghingingly connected to said forward portion and resiliently connected tosaid U member.

JOHN W. BRANDT.

